Deepika Padukone Named India’s First Mental Health Ambassador

New Delhi, October 11: There’s a strange symmetry to Deepika Padukone’s week. The Health Ministry picked her as India’s first Mental Health Ambassador, and almost at the same time, the film industry started whispering about her being “too difficult” to cast. It’s almost poetic. The woman who helped the country talk about mental health is now defending her own right to slow down.

The Honour That Feels Personal

The announcement came on World Mental Health Day, a date Deepika has marked quietly for years. The Health Ministry said it wanted her to lead national awareness campaigns, to make mental health part of everyday conversation.

For her, this isn’t a new cause. Back in 2015, when she first talked about her depression, the reaction was mostly disbelief. People called it a “publicity stunt.” She ignored it, started the Live Love Laugh Foundation, and kept working. According to The Economic Times, steady work is what finally led to this appointment.

She didn’t say much after the announcement. Just that it felt “deeply special.” It wasn’t a speech; it was a moment.

India still needs that moment. Roughly one in seven Indians struggles with some form of mental disorder, and yet, therapy remains a luxury. Experts keep saying the same thing: there aren’t enough professionals, especially outside cities. Maybe Deepika’s face, her story, will get people talking again. That’s the hope.

The Work-Life Clash

But while she was making news for this new national role, another story was brewing one far less flattering. The Times of India reported that Alia Bhatt could replace her in the next Kalki 2898 AD film. Another piece suggested that her part in Atlee’s film with Allu Arjun might have been cut down.

The reason? Deepika’s choice to work eight-hour days.

For an industry built on chaos, that’s apparently radical. After a week of speculation, she finally spoke to Samayam Telugu, saying, “It’s not a demand, it’s a decision. Balance matters. Men do it all the time.”

Director Hansal Mehta backed her, calling the 12-hour work norm “exploitative.” His post struck a chord among younger actors and crew who’ve quietly endured the grind. Others, mostly producers, muttered about “unrealistic expectations.”

That’s Bollywood in a nutshell everyone preaching self-care until someone actually practices it.

A Hijab, a Hashtag, and the Internet’s Whiplash

Then came another storm. A tourism ad showed Deepika wearing a hijab, and suddenly, social media decided it was offended. The outrage didn’t last long, but the noise was ugly.

Fans rushed to defend her. “She’s just being respectful,” one comment read, echoing hundreds of others. It’s become routine for Deepika do something normal, watch it turn political.

Amid all this, actress Triptii Dimri often compared to her stepped in and said what needed saying: “People love to pit women against each other.” It was a small moment of grace in a space that rarely allows it.

From Vulnerability to Influence

It’s easy to forget how hard it was for Deepika to be taken seriously when she first opened up about her depression. The country wasn’t ready. Even now, many still see mental illness as weakness.

Over the years, she’s done the slow work campaigns, school workshops, and quiet donations. Nothing flashy. Just consistency. That’s what made this new role believable.

Her government appointment might finally give her advocacy institutional backing. But as mental health experts point out, awareness alone isn’t enough. India still has only one psychiatrist for every lakh people. Deepika can’t fix that. What she can do is keep the pressure on, keep the issue visible.

A Star on Her Own Terms

If you zoom out, this whole week says a lot about where Deepika is right now. She’s done chasing the pace that once defined her. She’s no longer the actor signing everything, doing everything, pleasing everyone.

She’s picking her hours, her scripts, her silences. It’s not about control’s about sanity.

That shift unsettles people because Bollywood isn’t built for boundaries. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe Deepika Padukone’s biggest statement isn’t her government role or her next blockbuster. It’s that she’s daring to be human in a business that forgets how.

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Ayesha Khan

Entertainment Correspondent – Ayesha@hindustanherald.in – Web

Covers films, television, streaming, and celebrity culture with a focus on storytelling trends.

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